Discussion Guide for Healing and Resistance

posted Nov 23, 2004

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YES! Discussion Guides are designed to help you explore your own
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November 2 dashed the hopes of millions. After an election that stirred
such passions, how do we move forward as a nation? In this issue, we
look at the fractures underlying our present social landscape, the new
fears and old scars, and how we can heal them. Fear itself is a major
scar left from September 11, shaping the country's direction and
perhaps determining the election results. Violence deepens in Iraq, and
that violence returns home to America, as the veterans of the Iraq war
return home scarred, maimed, or troubled. How can we resist these
destructive spirals? How can we overturn ancient patterns of harm? What
sources of healing are within and around us?

It's really bad, says activist Van Jones of the election results.
Though we may be tempted to minimize the results, he suggests we should
acknowledge what really happened and what it will bring. However, he
also urges us to take note of the “genuine, cross-class, multi-racial,
pro-democracy movement” that emerged in only 18 months to oppose the
Bush administration. This movement broke down divides among
progressives, pioneered innovative political uses of technology, tapped
into youth energy, and brought new heroes to the fore. The bright
promise of that movement “will someday be a great flame,” Jones
promises.

• Did you vote this year? If not, why not? Have you sometimes not voted
in the past? If not, what made you decide to vote this time?

• Did you participate in election campaign work? What did you do? Did
your work feel effective? Why or why not? If you didn't participate,
what kept you from getting involved?

• Have you participated in previous political movements, from the civil
rights movement or anti-Vietnam war struggles to local efforts, say to
improve a local school? What setbacks did you have along the way?

Finding a way home

Thousands of soldiers are beginning to return from combat in Iraq.
Already, studies suggest these soldiers are suffering a great deal of
trauma and stress. They are fighting a guerilla war whose rationale has
been increasingly proved false and which is resulting in the deaths of
many civilians.

• Do you have any friends or family fighting in Iraq? Do you know
anyone who died while serving in Iraq or who was wounded there? If so,
what has been the experience of these soldiers? What has been the
experience of their families? If you know anyone who has returned from
Iraq, how are they dealing with their experiences?

• Have you or anyone in your family experienced war, either as a
soldier or a civilian? How did it affect you or your family members?
What helped you or them recover from it? How did the experiences from
various wars differ?

• What do you think of Rachel MacNair's claim that to kill someone is
the most traumatic war experience? Does that fit with your own
experiences or those of people you know?

• What actions to help returning veterans could you take in your community?

• A number of soldiers and former soldiers have recently refused the
orders calling them to serve in Iraq. When if ever, is one obligated to
fight for one's country or community? Would you put these beliefs among
your “moral values”?

The warriors who turned to peace

John Mohawk describes an ancient tradition for building peace. He
argues that the existence of violent people who cannot be controlled by
laws is nothing new and that we are always in need of ways to make
peace between people who share no structures of law or nation, but may
share a long legacy of violence and revenge. He describes practises
that do not remove all conflict, but keep people talking rather than
killing.

• What does he mean by progressive pragmatism? How might we apply it to
current conflicts, including the war on terror? How might you apply it
to conflicts within your community or your family?

• Mohawk says we must negotiate even with our most bitter enemies,
including terrorists. What do you think of this claim? Why do people
sometimes argue that we cannot negotiate with terrorists?

• What experience have you had of resolving conflict? What worked, not only in the short term but in the long term?

• Near the end of his article, Mohawk describes his tradition as a
sophisticated way to “play politics.” Is peacemaking what you think of
when you hear that phrase? What do you associate with politics?

• Do you share political values with those around you, in your
community or your family? If not, how do you deal with that? Do you
speak about politics with those with whom you disagree? How might you?
How might you have a productive conversation at a holiday celebration
with someone with whom you strongly

disagree?

A life lived whole

Parker Palmer believes that we should seek wholeness in our lives,
integrating our deepest values with our work. Dissonance between what
we believe is right and the values we serve in our jobs makes people
unhappy and harms the world. Palmer argues that by resisting
institutional demands that conflict with our deepest values, we do not
undermine the institutions, but help to serve their true purposes
better. He advocates not withdrawing from institutions but
instead pushing them to better serve their aims.

• In what ways do you feel that you serve your values by the work you
do? Have you ever felt a conflict between the demands of a job and what
you felt was right, as the employee at the Agriculture Department did?
If so, how did you resolve it? Have you made a job or career change
because of such a conflict?

• Consider the list that begins on page 33 of Palmer's article. Have
you experienced any of these forms of the divided life? What led you
into them? How did you or might you go about resolving them?

• Many people consider it honorable to work simply to earn a living and
feel there is nothing to be ashamed of in making compromises to do so.
Do you think Palmer is correct to emphasize seeking wholeness in work?
Why or why not?

• In what activities do you feel most whole? What least?

What are you doing?

We're also looking for stories of what you're doing to change the world
for the better. We'll publish selected stories in YES! E-mail stories
of up to 500 words to: editors@yesmagazine.org

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